Astros notes: Wallace shines against Hamels

Cutting time

The Astros made their first significant round of roster cuts Monday, sending 13 players to minor league camp.

Pitchers David Carpenter, Cesar Carrillo, Jorge De Leon, Arcenio Leon and second baseman Jimmy Paredes were optioned to minor league camp as dictated by their status on the 40-man roster, which is unchanged.

The cuts came one day after the Astros finished the bulk of their split-squad games with five in the first two weeks and one in the last two weeks. The need for the enlarged roster waned, and regulars will start getting more and more of the playing time.

With righthander Sammy Gervacio having previously begun rehabbing in minor league camp, the Astros are down to 49 players on the major league camp roster (including Jason Castro, who is doing his rehab in Houston). They need to reach 25 on the active roster by opening day.

Wandy scratched

Wandy Rodriguez is expected to miss a full turn in the rotation after being scratched from today’s outing with shoulder tendinitis, but is expected to return this weekend for his next start.

Rodriguez said that he was bothered by the inflammation when he last took the mound Thurday, but the pain went away.

“I can throw because I feel it only on about my first six throws,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez will be shut down for a few days.

Aneury Rodriguez will start Tuesday’s game, which was supposed to be Wandy Rodriguez’s five-inning outing as he builds up to regular-season readiness. Jordan Lyles follow as the Astros race to get their starters real starters’ innings as split-squad games dwindle. Lance Pendleton, Enerio Del Rosario, Sergio Escalona and Casey Fien are also on the travel roster for the game against the Orioles.

Wallace shines

Brett Wallace went 2-for-3 with a double as he got the start against Cole Hamels .

“We want this kid to get as much – it’s almost like forcefeeding him – experience,” manager Brad Mills said.

The Astros often gave Carlos Lee starts at first base against lefties last season, putting Jason Michaels in the outfield. The lefthanded-hitting Wallace has never had a problem with lefties, hitting them as well as righties in his roughly two seasons in the minor leagues.